Category Archives: Resources

VIDEO: The Lone Caretaker Of Kochi’s Centuries Old Jewish Synagogue

Watch how one man independently maintains and preserves an important part of Jewish history in Kochi, located in the state of Kerala in India.

Cochin Jews, also called Malabar Jews, are the oldest group of Jews in India, with possible roots claimed to date to the time of King Solomon.

They were in Kerala for more than 2000 years. After the formation of Israel in 1948, around 2500 members of the Cochin Jews migrated to Israel

Today there are 27 Jews remaining in Cochin.

The diaspora from Cochin are a community with more than 4000 members in Israel today.

Sub-Saharan African Jewish Alliance formed in the aftermath of Kulanu conference

SAJA seeks to unite the continent’s emerging communities.

BY AVI KUMAR

Participants at the Kulanu gathering in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, earlier this month. Credit: Serge Etele.

(December 30, 2022 / JNS) – The Sub-Saharan African Jewish Alliance was founded this month, with the goal of facilitating ties among the continent’s Jewish groups. The organization will include representatives from Tanzania, Madagascar, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Kenya and Cameroon.

The SAJA was established after representatives of Jewish communities across sub-Saharan Africa gathered for the first time in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, this month to discuss various aspects of Judaism and Jewish life in the region.

SAJA has a temporary board with Mordreck Maersara from Zimbabwe currently serving as acting president. The group aims to draft a constitution and hold elections for a permanent board in the next six months. It also has a vice president and treasurer, and intends to add more positions to the roster after the constitution is finalized.

Maersara told JNS, “Our goal is to help each other by discussing both shared successes and challenges to aid each other to grow in our Judaism across Africa.”

Click here to read the full article on the Jewish News Syndicate website.

VIDEO: Hannukah Celebrations on the island of Majorca in Spain

Watch the recent Hanukkah celebrations in Palma on the island of Majorca, in Spain.

The event was organized by Limud Mallorca (https://limudmallorca.com), in collaboration with The Jewish Community of the Balearic Islands (https://www.cjib.es/en/home), Jewish Majorca (https://jewishmajorca.com), and the Instituto de Relaciones Culturales Baleares-Israel (http://baleares-israel.blogspot.com).